Sparkles of joy...a sense of wonder...may the season's magic have a
beauty all its own to cherish and remember. For the New Year -- Peace.
Christmas 2016 Judith Rasmussen Adam
This memorial website was created in the memory of our dear friend, Mercer ("Dusty") Given Rhodes, Jr., who was born on December 20, 1935 and passed away on May 2, 2011. We will miss him dearly and are grateful for the wonderful presence he had in all of our lives. Please feel free to post any pictures you may have, write tributes, and share any stories (see instructions below). If you experience any difficulty or require assistance, feel free to contact Kelly at kellytipton@hotmail.com. The site will be in effect for eternity, so please come back and visit from time to time, and continue to share.
Dusty's memorial will be held at the Seattle Tennis Club on Sunday, June 5, 2011 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Dusty's obituary will be posted in the Seattle Times on Sunday, May 15, and will be accessible on line, as well. I have posted a copy of the obituary on this website, under the "His Life" tab above.
Donations: Should you desire to make a donation in Dusty's honor, the following organizations were very dear to him:
Seattle Fire Department’s Medic I (make checks out to "Medic I" and send to: 301 2nd Ave. S, Seattle, WA 98104);
Swedish Hospital, First Hill Campus, Seattle, CA;
Democratic Party (hahaha... just kidding);
In the alternative, you can just buy a BMW with your money and Dusty's pride will brighten the heavens, even more than he already has.
Instructions for posting:
To post a picture, simply click "Add a Photo" on the right side of the home page (the tab on the bottom where the slideshow is), click the "Add a Photo" tab at the top of the page which opens, click the "Choose File" tab and select the picture(s) you wish to share, and then click the "Start Upload" tab.
To share a story, simply click the "Stories" tab on the upper part of the home page and you can name your story and start typing. Simply click "Save" when you are finished.
To leave a tribute, simply scroll down this home page and click the "Leave a Tribute" tab and leave your tribute. Simply click "Save" when you are finished.
Should you have any questions or problems, feel free to contact Kelly at kellytipton@hotmail.com
In Memoriam 2011
I am saddened to have just learned of the death of a long ago friend, Mercer G. Rhodes Jr. It seems but a precious moment from now to remembering back in time when we met in Madison Park where I was living and soon found ourselves on a sailing trip on his friend’s yacht. I can see from memorial comments that the waterways and mountains of the Pacific Northwest were an inspiration his entire life.
He had come to Seattle to work in sales for IBM at its new iconic building. Dusty was witty, intelligent and strikingly handsome. Before he left on a Christmas ski vacation in Colorado he gave me a gift of Joy perfume and I gave him a book of poetry. On the wall in his room was a poster of Mont Saint-Michel, France which became a symbolic reminder that I had to travel too. When I was living in New York he wanted me to meet his father so I visited him at his home in exclusive Bronxville, N.Y. I had brought him and his wife Jean a vase from my visit to Rhodes, Greece. Mercer Sr. was a lovely man who exuded a gentlemanly elegance. To get back into Manhattan he insisted on having his driver take me there.
When I heard of Dusty’s death I imagined the inconsolable loss of his friends closer in present time and that they too will carry his memory forever as a treasure. In this time of sorrow the memories came flooding back and I realize that it was the confidence of his personality which informed my life like a spiritual gift. I would have wanted to have talked with Mercer a last time before he passed away. I could have told him of his influence and that the ideas generated will carry on. My subsequent studies became fine arts and intellectual history.
In trying to reach out in remembrance the poet’s words came to mind:
Time present and time past
Are both perhaps present in time future,
And time future contained in time past….
But only in time can the moment in the rose-garden,
Be remembered; involved with past and future.
Only through time time is conquered. T.S. Eliot
Hope always flies on the wings of the dove. Rest in peace sweet soul.
Tribute from: Judith “Judy” Rasmussen Adam